Checking door hinges

Part 1. Preparation and safety

Objective

• Lubricate door hinges and locks and adjust jams.

Personal safety

Whenever you perform a task in the workshop you must use personal protective clothing and equipment that is appropriate for the task and which conforms to your local safety regulations and policies. Among other items, this may include:

• Work clothing - such as coveralls and steel-capped footwear
• Eye protection - such as safety glasses and face masks
• Ear protection - such as earmuffs and earplugs
• Hand protection - such as rubber gloves and barrier cream
• Respiratory equipment - such as face masks and valved respirators

If you are not certain what is appropriate or required, ask your supervisor.

Safety check

• Make sure that you understand and observe all legislative and personal safety procedures when carrying out the following tasks. If you are unsure of what these are, ask your supervisor.

Points to note

• Different manufacturers use different forms of latches and locking mechanisms.
• Always make sure that you have the correct service manual for the job you are working on.
• On vehicles with heavy doors, such as some older vehicles and convertibles, the door latch contains a locating wedge or pin. This locates the door when closed, and takes some of the strain off the hinges.

Part 2: Step-by-step instruction

1. Check door for hinge wear
   Open the door to approximately 45 degrees to the car body. Wear gloves when performing this test, in case there are any sharp edges underneath the door. Put your hand under the base of the door, and lift it gently against the hinges to see if there is excess wear in the pins. Some limited amount of wear is always present, and you will usually be able to move the door up and down a little at its outer edge. An excessive amount of movement means the door is worn and has “dropped’. Report this to your supervisor, as the hinges or door jams may need to be adjusted.
2. Check door closure
   Gently push the door closed. If the door shuts smoothly with a distinct “click”, then the door is catching the locking or latch mechanism as it is designed to do. Push the door in further, and you should hear a second “click”. This indicates that the door is adjusted correctly.
3. Lubricate hinges
   Fully open each door. Using a manufacturer-approved lubricant, apply it to the tops of each hinge. Generally, lower hinges have a door check roller, cam and spring incorporated into the assembly. You should also lubricate the roller part of the assembly. Now swing the door gently back and forth to allow the lubricant to penetrate into the hinges. Wipe any excess lubricant from the external parts of the hinges.
4. Lubricate lock and latch mechanism
   Using a manufacturer’s approved lubricant, apply it to each locking or latch mechanism. Generally the locking and latch mechanism is in the door itself, so the lock needs to be worked to allow the lubricant to penetrate into the mechanism. Operate the latch by opening and closing the door, and from both the outside and the inside of the vehicle. Wipe any excess lubricant from the external parts of the locking mechanism.